Starter switch



April 30, 1963 Filed March 29, 1961 J. J. REYNOLDS 3,088,010

STARTER SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR flaw f ffyA/oL 05 ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fim/i Cg 0 ATTORNEYS J. J REYNOLDS STARTER SWITCH April 30, 1963 Filed March 29, 1961 I III! April 30, 1963 J. J. REYNOLDS a STARTER swzwcu 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 29, 1961 /7"[ g .J

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS nite This invention relates to switches, circuit breakers and the like and in particular to switches which are solenoid actuated and designed for heavy duty operation.

Switches installed in factories and plants for the remote control of motor driven machinery are designed for full voltage operation and are, as a consequence, commonly magnetically actuated. That is, a solenoid assembly is used to close and open the contacts on starting and stopping, the moving contacts being supported by the armature in this assembly. The wound core of the assembly is a fixed piece which provides the actuating field for the armature. Usual safety precautions require that the magnetic switch be deenergized under certain conditions such as following machine breakdown when a mechanic is examining the cause of the breakdown and is effecting repairs. However, it is recognized that there is a danger of restarting the switch at this stage as by accidental grounding or shorting of the control circuit in the switch. Accordingly, the factory laws of many states require that there be provided a manual, disconnect switch between the magnetic switch and the power source, and this manually operated switch is required to be thrown when normal operation of the machinery is interrupted which frequently results in serious productionlosses 'on machines the operating condition of which remains normal but which are powered through the same manual, disconnect switch. The cost of installing the manual switch is oftencomparable to that of the magnetic switch itself and it would, therefore, be a desideratum if the same safety factor could be made available by simply redesigning the magnetic switch in such a manner that the need for the manual switch is eliminated. Additionally, elimination of this switch yields a valuable space saving advantage.

To this end, I provide a manually translatable stator unit as an element of the solenoid assembly in the magnetic switch. That is, the wound iron core, which is normally fixed in position, is so arranged that it can be manually displaced in the direction of armature movement. At its one extreme position, the armature is permitted to move a distance sufficient to close the switch contacts but in its other extreme position, the safety position, full armature movement is inhibited and closing the contacts is not mechanically possible. It is thusseen that normal armature movement can be selectively arrested without the need of an' armature stop as an element mechanically independent of the armature and the solenoid core which might seriously interfere with the normal magnetic operation of the solenoid. Accordingly, there is provided a magnetic switch which is endowed with the same safety factorsas a magnetic switch of the usual design in combination with a manual disconnect switch.

Further, it is anticipated that in other types of solenoid operated devices, it may be desirable to provide selective means for mechanically preventing normal armature movement without introducing between the solenoid core and the armature an armature stop as a separate element;

One object of the invention is to provide a heavy duty starting switch of the solenoid type in which the mechan ical operation of the solenoid assembly is selectively inhibited.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solenoid' operated device in which normal armature move- States atent ment' is selectively inhibited through displacement of the solenoid core.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent on reading the following detailed description of one of its embodiments which is taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the improved solenoid operated starter switch with the cover removed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a central vertical section on enlarged scale on line 33' of FIG. 1 showing the solenoid core in safety position;

FIG. 4 is a similar sectional view as shown in FIG. 3 with the solenoid core in operative position;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the physical'arrangement for displacing the stator unit in the solenoid assembly; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the starter switch and circuitry.

Referring to the drawings, it is seen that the principal components of the starter switch are enclosed in a casing 4' and mounted on a vertical plate 5 which is disposed in the rear of the casing. and spaced from its back plate 6.

The stator portion of the solenoid assembly includes a three legged laminated iron core 7 onthe middle core leg. of which solenoid coil 8 is wound. The core 7 is supported by screws 10 which extend through vertically elongated holesin' the verticalplate' 5 to a slide plate 11 which is disposed between the vertical plate 5 and the rear wall-6 of the casing. See FIG. 5. Integral with the rear face of the slide plate 11 is vertically extending rib 12" in which there is provided a slot 13 extending horizontally across the rib. A crank 14 having a crank pin. 15 cooperating with the slot 13 being permanently disposed therein extends through the side walls of the casing 4 for the switch. A manually operated lever 16 is' integral with the crank 14 beingoperable to rotate the crank pin'15 in the slot 13 formed in the ribbed portion of the slide plate to cause the latter to displace vertically. A pair of stops 17 limit the rotation in each direction of the crank 14''. The same vertical movement is imparted to thestator' core 7 through the screws 10.

A vertical guide plate 18 is attached to a vertical extension member 20 of the core 7 by means of screws 21. The'p'late 18' has a horizontal leg 22 which is provided with an'insulated block 23 slotted to receive vertical extension 24 of armature frame 25; Armature 26 is'pivotally attached to the armature frame 25 underneath the stator core 7. Armature stops 28 are provided in the frame 25 to determine the desired pivoted position of the' armature relative to the three polarized'legs of the core 7. At the top of the armature frame 25 is provided an insulated-yoke bar 30 which supports separate three-phase contact bars 31, 3'2 and 33'. These movable contact bars are silvered at each end and are upwardly spring biased to provide a yielding engagement with fixed contact-bars 34; 35' and 36. As shown'in FIG. 6, the fixed contact bars 34, 35 and 36 have separate contact points A and B, C and D and E and F, respectively, which are separately supported on an insulated block 37 by the vertical plate 5: Contact bar stops 29 are supported by the block 37 under the movable contact bars to limit the downward travel of the armature. Engagement between the contacts is actually made at their front and rear end portions, see FIG. 5; so that contact points G and H of contact bar 31 a'readapted to engage points A and B of contact bar 34" and contact points I and J of contact 32 are adapted to engage contact points C and D of contacts 35 while contact points K and L of contact bar 33 are designed to engage contact points E and F of the fixed contact bar 36.

When the stator core 7 is in its extreme uppermost position, see FIG. 4, the yoke bar 34 is permitted to move a sufficient distance to close the contacts as shown in its broken line position. However, when the stator component is in its extreme low position, see FIG. 3, the yoke bar 39 is unable to move sufliciently in its upward travel, the stator core 7 serving as a mechanical stop for the armature bar 26 connected to the yoke bar 30 by armature frame 25, to make the three-phase contacts.

Also connected to the yoke bar 30 and movable therewith is holding contact bar 38 having two contact points M and N which are adapted to contact the fixed contact points and P. These latter contact points are components in the holding circuit for the starter switch which is connected between input line L and input line L as will be described in more detail below.

Input line L is connected to contact point A which on energization of the solenoid assembly is in contact with point B. Output terminal T is permanently connected to point B of the fixed contacts 34 through an overload coil 39. A similar overload coil 41' is connected between the output terminal T and the contact point F of the fixed contacts 36 connected to the input line L Input line L is connectable to the output terminal T through contacts C and D of the fixed contacts 35. As mentioned above, a holding circuit is connected between the phase lines L and L This circuit is connected from fixed contact point A and through a start-stop button box 41 to fixed holding contacts 0 and P. More specifically, the stop button 41a in normally closed position connects contact point A with contact point P and also connects point A to one of the normally open contacts adapted to be closed by the start button 411?. The other normally open contact for the starting button is in permanent connection with contact 0 which in turn is permanently connected to the input side of the solenoid coil 8 through fixed contact 3-2 and core contact 43. The output side of this coil is connected through core contact 44 and fixed contact 45 and through reset switches 46 and 47 to the input line L These switches are designed to be opened when their corresponding overload coils are heated above a preselected point and may be manually reset thereafter.

In operation, it may be seen that when the solenoid core 7 is in its operative position the starting button 41b may be pushed to close the holding circuit through the normally closed stop button 41a and the solenoid coil 8. On release of the starting button, current through the solenoid coil 8 continues by virtue of the fact that point P is in contact with point 0, which is permanently connected to the solenoid coil 8 by virtue of the closing of the holding contacts 0 and M and P and N. This is normal operation of the switch when the hand lever 16 is up as shown in FIG. 4. However, when the lever 16 is down, energization of the coil 8, accidental or otherwise, is prevented because of the disengagement of the core contacts and their associated fixed contacts in the holding circuit and raising the armature so as to close the three phase contacts is also prevented since the core 7 of the solenoid assembly is in its safety or lowermost position as shown in FIG. 3 where armature movement to that end is effectively precluded.

Various modifications of the invention may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principle of invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a solenoid operated starting switch, an armature carrying switch contacts, fixed contacts adapted to engage the switch contacts, an electromagnet disposed in the direction of movement of said armature and operable to actuate the armature and thereby make and break said contacts, said electromagnet being displaceable in the direction of movement of said armature, a plate on one side of which are disposed said fixed contacts, a member slidably supported by said plate, said electromagnet being connected to said slidably supported member and means for displacing said slidable member and thereby said electromagnet.

2. In a solenoid operated starting switch, an armature carrying switch contacts, fixed contacts adapted to en gage the switch contacts, an electromagnet disposed in the direction of movement of said armature and operable to actuate the armature and thereby make and break said contacts, said electromagnet being displaceable in the direction of movement of said armature, a vertical plate on one side of which are disposed said fixed contacts, a slidable plate disposed on the other side of said vertical plate, said electromagnet being connected to said slidable plate by attachment means extending through vertically elongated holes in said vertical plate, said slidable plate being slotted and linkage means including a crank pin disposed in the slot formed in said slidable plate for displacing the slidable plate and thereby said electromagnet.

3. In a solenoid operated starting switch, an armature carrying switch contacts, fixed contacts adapted to engage the switch contacts, an electromagnet disposed in the direction of movement of said armature and operable to actuate the armature and thereby make and break said contacts, said electromagnet being displaceable in the direction of movement of said armature, a vertical plate on one side of which are disposed said fixed contacts, a slidable plate disposed on the other side of said vertical plate, said electromagnet being connected to said slidable plate by attachment means extending through vertically elongated holes in said vertical plate, said slidable plate being slotted, linkage means including a crank pin disposed in the slot formed in said slidable plate for displacing the slidable plate and thereby said electromagnet and circuitry connected to said contacts, said circuitry including a coil energizing circuit in which there is included a contact supported by said electromagnet and a corresponding fixed contact, the contacts in said energizing circuit being adapted to insure that said energizing circuit will remain open when said contacts are broken on displacement of said electromagnet.

4. In a solenoid operated device, an armature member having a normal throw of a given distance, a stator member mounted proximate said armature member, energizing means connected to one of said members for actuating said armature, said stator member being physically slidable relative to the armature member when the latter is stationary, the displaceable stator member having a preselected armature stop position and means at said armature stop position for physically engaging the armature and reducing the throw thereof to less than said given distance, means for preventing the stator from passing beyond said position and means connected to said stator member for sliding said stator member to said position.

5. In a solenoid operated starting switch, an armature carrying switch contacts, fixed contacts mounted for engagement with the switch contacts, an electromagnet having energizing means to actuate the armature for making and breaking said contacts, said electromagnet being slidable and having a preselected armature stop position and mechanical stop means adapted to physically engage a portion of said armature for limiting the movement of the armature to prevent the making of said contacts when said electromagnet is in one of its displaced positions and means connected to said electromagnet and operably independent of said energizing means for positively and selectively sliding said electromagnet to or away from said preselected armature stop position.

6. In a solenoid operated starting switch, an armature carrying switch contacts, fixed contacts mounted for engagement with the switch contacts, an electromagnet operable to actuate the armature and thereby make and break said contacts, said electromagnet being a preselected armature stop position, means connected to said electromagnet for guiding the displacement of said electromagnet and means engaging said guiding means and operatively independent of said electromagnet for positively and selectively sliding said electromagnet to or away from said preselected armature stop position and the switch contacts carried by said armature.

7. In a solenoid operated device, an armature, an electromagnet disposed in the direction of movement of said armature and operable to actuate the armature, said electromagnet being displaceable in the direction of movement of said armature, a plate disposed proximate said electromagnet, a member slidably supported by said plate, said electromagnet being connected to said slidably supported member and means for displacing said slidable member and thereby said electromagnet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 364,619 Woods June 7, 1887 1,578,572 Austin Mar. 30, 1926 10 2,500,635 Hammerly Mar. 14-, 1950 2,661,451 Tamm Dec. 1, 1953 2,756,302 BaltuCh July 24, 1956 2,859,302 Schleicher Nov. 4, 1958 

1. IN A SOLENOID OPERATED STARTING SWITCH, AN ARMATURE CARRYING SWITCH CONTACTS, FIXED CONTACTS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE SWITCH CONTACTS, AN ELECTROMAGNET DISPOSED IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMATURE AND OPERABLE TO ACTUATE THE ARMATURE AND THEREBY MAKE AND BREAK SAID CONTACTS, SAID ELECTROMAGNET BEING DISPLACEABLE IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMATURE, A PLATE ON ONE SIDE OF WHICH ARE DISPOSED SAID FIXED CONTACTS, A MEMBER SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID PLATE, SAID ELECTROMAGNET BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SLIDABLY SUPPORTED MEMBER AND MEANS FOR DISPLACING SAID SLIDABLE MEMBER AND THEREBY SAID ELECTROMAGNET. 